In agriculture, soil is a crucial component that provides the structural support for plants used in agriculture and is essential for the production of food and fiber. It is a complex mixture of inorganic particles, organic matter, water, and air, and it plays a vital role in sustaining plant and animal life, regulating water flow, filtering and buffering pollutants, cycling nutrients, and providing physical stability and support.
Key points about soil in agriculture include:
- Composition: Soil consists of inorganic particles and organic matter, with the organic matter usually making up less than 10% of the soil. It can be subdivided into living and non-living fractions, and it contains numerous organisms ranging from microscopic bacteria to large soil animals such as earthworms.
- Functions: Soil performs vital functions to sustain plant and animal life, regulate water flow, filter and buffer pollutants, cycle nutrients, and provide physical stability and support.
- Fertility: A fertile soil is rich in nutrients and organic matter, which is essential for the growth of crops. Soil scientists study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to agriculture, and they develop methods to improve soil use and increase crop production.
- Sustainability: Emphasis continues to grow on the importance of soil sustainability, as soil degradation, such as erosion, compaction, lowered fertility, and contamination, continues to be serious concerns.
Understanding the composition and functions of soil is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices and the production of food and fiber crops. Therefore, agricultural soil scientists play a vital role in developing methods to improve soil use and increase crop production while emphasizing the importance of soil sustainability.
